Washington National Cathedral

The Chapter of Washington National Cathedral announces the creation of The Nathan D. Baxter Endowed Fund for Preaching at Washington National Cathedral. This Fund celebrates the legacy of Dean Nathan Baxter’s pursuit of excellence in proclamation of the Word, and offers the opportunity to ensure that the Canterbury Pulpit will feature the finest preachers in the world for generations to come.

Washington National Cathedral has long maintained a commitment to outstanding preaching, and it has welcomed many of the most distinguished preachers of the twentieth century. Notable preachers have included Billy Graham, the Dalai Llama, several Archbishops of Canterbury, and Martin Luther King, Jr., who delivered his last Sunday sermon from the Canterbury Pulpit only four day before he was assassinated.

The Very Rev. Nathan D. Baxter distinguished himself as one of the finest preachers of our era during his tenure as Dean of the Cathedral from 1991 to 2003. As a third-generation clergyman, Nathan Baxter has always felt called to proclaim God’s word boldly, and he has consistently done so by touching our deepest hopes, fears, and dreams. He leaves a legacy of preaching excellence that has touched millions personally and has given the Cathedral a relied-upon voice as a moral compass for the nation.

The purpose of the Nathan D. Baxter Endowed Fund is to support and nourish preaching excellence at the Cathedral. Specifically, the Fund will provide the resources to identify, invite, and host the finest preachers in the world. Such preaching will enhance the Cathedral’s special services such as Memorial Day, July 4th, and our ongoing program of Major State Day observances. It will also bolster our acclaimed programs such as our Advent Preaching Series.

As an endowment, the Fund has the capacity to nurture and enable outstanding preaching for generations to come. We invite your generous participation. For more information, please contact Suzy Mink (202) 537-2357.